The state of Jammu & Kashmir is famous for its rich heritage of handicrafts. Crafts have played a very vital role in society and the economy. Crafts are an intrinsic part of everyday life and every household boasts of an artisan in the family.

The crafts are almost always intricate. Whether it is the pashmina shawl or the paper maché box, the crafts are actually artistic pieces that take ages to make.

The textiles of the region are world-famous: the pashmina shawl, the Kani shawl, the woolen carpet, etc are all known around the world and the region gets identity from these crafts. So are the paper-maché products, the willow baskets and the wooden furniture elements.
 

There are also some lesser-known crafts of the region like copper sheet metal work and leather bags that are losing their markets because of the reduction in the number of practitioners.

Aims & Objectives:
The major aims of the project are two-fold:
• To design packaging for the exclusive crafts of the state so that the value of the product and    its presentation is enhanced, and
• To use the skills and materials that are abundantly available in the state for packaging.

The objectives of the assignment were to apply a new concept to the craft sector that usually ignores the aspect of packaging. It also seeks to use packaging as a new avenue for new product development. With materials like paper-mache and wood, willow and fabrics the crafts abundantly lend themselves to packaging for products made in other parts of the country as well.